Printable Brochure on Lawn Shrimp

Lawn Shrimp  

(Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae)

 Introduction

Terrestrial Amphipods (Lawn shrimp) get their name due to their resemblance of ordinary ocean shrimp. These amphipods require moist habitats to survive and can live on the top surface of mulch and/or moist ground.  After it rains massive amounts of Lawn Shrimp can migrate into garages and/or under doorways. Moisture from their environment is critical to their existence.  Amphipods lack a waxy exoskeleton layer and will dry out quickly. Home owners can wake/or come home to hundreds of dead shrimp  in their lawns or by their doors due to the delicate nature of the Lawn Shrimps existence. 

Description 

Amphipods can range from 5 mm to 20 mm (3/16 to 3/4 inch) in length.  They are compressed laterally and lack a hard covering thats is common in most crustaceans.  The abdominal segments are often fused.  Lawn Shrimp have two pairs of antennas, one set is extremely small.  Members of this order have chewing mouthparts and feed off of organic or decaying animal matter.  Species can vary in color from pale brown, greenish, to brownish black when they are alive.  When Lawn Shrimp die they often turn red.   

Management

Terrestrial amphipods require a moist environment and die quickly in the drier environments.  They can be on dry pavement or within structures. Once they are dead, they turn reddish in color. Lawn shrimp can be swept up and discarded in the regular trash. Although spot treatment of doorways with a residual contact insecticide will accelerate amphipod mortality in homes, there is no need for insecticidal control.  

 For more information on Lawn Shrimp:

LyraEDISServlet

http://pestcemetery.com/lawn-shrimp-and-forrest-gumps-day-off/

Printable Brochure on Lawn Shrimp